Dress Code

The foundation of Zanesville Christian School is the Word of God, and our purpose is to bring Him glory in everything we do. Our main reason for existence is to serve and please Him who has chosen us to be His soldiers, and not to be caught up in the affairs of this world. Romans 12:2 says, "Be not conformed to this world." It would seem logical, according to Dr. Paul A. Keniel that we "should do everything possible to avoid taking on the appearance or even a distant resemblance of a group of individuals who despise the name of Christ, who would destroy our country if they could, and who have little or no regard for Biblical authority." We at Zanesville Christian School wish to be identified with traditional, conservative, separated, Biblical fundamentalism.

Romans 12:2 says, "Be not conformed to this world. . ." We are admonished by the Scripture to identify with Christ and not the world. Deuteronomy 22:5 says, "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are an abomination unto the Lord thy God." We believe following fashions to be quite acceptable as long as the fashion we are following does not violate Biblical principles. The Bible does not say precisely what kind of clothes a Christian should wear, but it instructs students of every generation that their apparel should be modest, that boys should dress as masculine boys; and girls should dress as feminine girls; and that young people are to be ". . .an example of the believers" (I Timothy 4:12).

The Lord, through His word, has something definite to say about men wearing long hair. I Corinthians 11:14 says, ". . .if a man has long hair, it is a shame unto him." Women, however, are to wear long hair. I Corinthians 11:15 says, "But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her." Scriptures give considerable space to the precept that men should be masculine and women should be feminine.

What are we as Christians to do in a changing society? Dr. Paul A. Keniel writes, "The following is a quotation from the opening paragraphs of the dress code at Whittier Christian High School in California, written by the school's distinguished principal, Eugene Birdsall: A Christian institution has a unique responsibility in this area. Since we are judged largely by our appearance, we dare not be blind to the changing styles of the day and become so far 'behind the times' and hopelessly 'dated' that we repel the very one who should be attracted by our Christian testimony. Nor do we dare offend by adopting styles and fads which are purposely suggestive and vulgar in their appeal or which are the unique trademark of segments of society decidedly ungodly in their influence. Our appearance then must be conservative so that we are not offensive, and in good taste so as to 'adorn the Gospel' by our attractiveness."